<p>EK4, Funny you should say that - I recently babysat my very young nephews for a weekend and taking them all around town and having people come up to tell me how cute “my” children were definitely did it for me! When did their parents say they were leaving them here again? ;)</p>
<p>latetoschool - I too live to find flat or comfortably heeled black executive shoes. You just can’t wear dowdy shoes when someone is supposed to believe you are an executive in a corporate, customer facing job. Even though I am an old hippie at heart. But, I wear pants so it’s easier. For my feet - YMMV - Ferragamos have the best last. Ferragamo loafers are exquisitely comfortable, as are their 2.5 inch heels and I hate heels. I recently bought a pair of Manolo Blahnik flat ballet with pointy toes…, they are not as comfortable as those Ferragamo slingbacks. Have you ever tried Ferragamos? </p>
<p>Cole Hahns, except for the ones they do with Nike, alway hurt me.</p>
<p>well no- we aren’t supposed to be on our feet 20 hours a day </p>
<p>Shoes were actually one reason why I stopped working at a fancy hair salon, because “high” fashion was supposed to be more important than if you had feeling below your knees.</p>
<p>But try the footsmart website- they have different cushions depending on how your feet work ( high arch- supinate/pronate etc).
You have probably tried all those things- but they even sell cushions now that can be worn in sexy sandals.</p>
<p>Ive also heard good things about these shoes
<a href=“http://www.tarynrose.com/[/url]”>http://www.tarynrose.com/</a></p>
<p>Actually, EC, I havem’t really tried any of those things - I just keep buying more and more expensive shoes, ridiculously thinking the higher the price the better the quality and therefore they maybe won’t hurt after a long day/flights.</p>
<p>Here’s a shoe I currently wear although in black:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?productId=125403&categoryId=301411&productGroup=125405[/url]”>http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?productId=125403&categoryId=301411&productGroup=125405</a></p>
<p>Here’s what I am thinking I want to switch over to, if they would look o.k. with dark suits, and dark hose:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.capps-shoe.com/retail/ProductDetail.asp?div=B&dpt=W&ctg=D&PROD_CD=90021[/url]”>http://www.capps-shoe.com/retail/ProductDetail.asp?div=B&dpt=W&ctg=D&PROD_CD=90021</a></p>
<p>I’d have to think they’d be very comfortable and wearable for long hours - after all, women in military/police work wear them. They’re not very attractive, but, they’re probably as attractive as one can get and still be comfortable. But I am not sure if they don’t scream “she think’s she’s a cop” or “she broke into the base and stole some air force woman’s shoes” etc.</p>
<p><a href=“http://ferragamo.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/catalogPage.jhtml?tid=C9&itemId=cat1101&parentId=cat104&masterId=cat101&cmCat=&index=0&tid=C15[/url]”>http://ferragamo.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/catalogPage.jhtml?tid=C9&itemId=cat1101&parentId=cat104&masterId=cat101&cmCat=&index=0&tid=C15</a></p>
<p>No?</p>
<p><a href=“http://ferragamo.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod3410007&parentId=cat108&masterId=cat104&cmCat=cat000000cat101cat104cat1101&index=8&tid=C9[/url]”>http://ferragamo.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod3410007&parentId=cat108&masterId=cat104&cmCat=cat000000cat101cat104cat1101&index=8&tid=C9</a></p>
<p>I know they are not quite macho enough but I promise they are supremely comfortable…</p>
<p>Don’t you love how the answer to the Fountain of Youth is now apparently shoes? If this were a guys thread would it be cars?</p>
<p>I never really bought very many shoes- because I have a somewhat wider foot- with a very high arch- that doesn’t absorb any shock at all- so all the shoes that I could wear for any length of time,( without killing me) were pretty dorky looking.
( I do love my Converse though)</p>
<p>But once I started buying shoes online, where I can read the reviews and don’t have a salesperson pressuring me, and can send them back for free if I want- I have bought three pair just in the past couple weeks! ;)</p>
<p>They are really cute and I love being tall! ( er)
[I know they aren’t very business like however](<a href=“http://www.shoeline.com/asp/dcpItem.asp?style=DW3309”>http://www.shoeline.com/asp/dcpItem.asp?style=DW3309</a>)</p>
<p>I have heard that Dansko shoes are the greatest for people on their feet all day long. My neighbor works in the operating room doing orthopedic surgeries all day long and she swears by them.
<a href=“http://www.dansko.com%5B/url%5D”>www.dansko.com</a></p>
<p>LOL, Alumother, those are very nice, but, would not work with me at ALL. I walk and stomp around like a wreckless, clumsy horse or something - very rough on shoes, and so elegant, nice shoes would be a total waste on me, and they’d be ruined in a week. That’s why I like the thicker, sturdier heels, etc. - they feel more stable, secure. </p>
<p>I went to a party the other night; someone I hadn’t seen in a few months ran into me outside as we were both on our way into the place where the party was held, and he said “I recognized that walk”. Ugh. Just how I want to be recognized. Oh, well.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m starting to feel guilty about hijacking this thread - but seriously, shoes are a HUGE problem, for a lot of people. I don’t know what designers are thinking when they create these ridiculous things for women to wear. Oh wait - I know - they’re thinking money - still, I can see how serious health problems can happen. I’m not o.k. with having my feet hurt…</p>
<p>Dansko shoes are great- and some of the newer styles are less clunky and orthopedic looking. I wear them to work all the time. Also, Earth has some nice shoes that can make it at work.</p>
<p>These may not be very exciting, but I’ve developed a fondness for Talbot’s dress shoes. They tend to be more comfortable for me than many other brands, and I can find some with a 2 inch heel, which is my max these days.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=E192787&BID=&h=A[/url]”>http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=E192787&BID=&h=A</a></p>
<p>LTS. Also check out <a href=“http://www.naturalizer.com%5B/url%5D”>www.naturalizer.com</a> for an inexpensive version of the comfortable career type shoe. Many of them come in low or wedge heels or flat styles and in all widths (essential to a comfortable fit). I’ve never worn them, but I hear from the grapevine that these as well as <a href=“http://www.easyspirit.com%5B/url%5D”>www.easyspirit.com</a> shoes (with extra built in cushioning) are very comfortable. The other thing you could do is the patented NYC woman technique of changing from sneakers or flats into dressier shoes.</p>
<p>I, too, am a huge Dansko clog fan for casual wear - I have them in lots of colors, but don’t think they’d go too well with a dress or skirt suit… Wearing them is like getting an all day massage!</p>
<p>When my department was in New Orleans on business, we were doing a TON of walking. We were business casual, but the running shoe-look wasn’t too cool. I managed to find a pair of Cole Hahn-Nike Air black athletic shoes that didn’t scream “sneakers” when worn with pants. They are great for when you have to walk a lot. Ariat (boot maker) has some really comfortable dressier shoes.
I am (was?) a competitive runner, so I am very picky about all my shoes and will NOT wear uncomfortable shoes.</p>
<p>Can’t see those shiny oxfords (or any oxfords) with a skirt, skirt suit or dress, lts. Just can’t see it. One thought, from someone who can wear virtually any shoe for hours and hours and hours, including walking, with no comfort problems. But, I canNOT do that if the heel gets above about 1 1/2 or maybe 2 inches. I’ve got a few pair of 3~-inchers, but they are for limited time wear only. I’m thinking that your comfort problem is the height of the heel you’re wearing.</p>
<p>Those Cole-Haans you linked are 3 1/2 inches! Even with a platform, probably 3". Can anybody wear a 3" heel for an extended period and be comfortable?</p>
<p>LTS, I could not agree more about the sexy underwear. It does create a vibe! However, I am not a thong type. But there are great teeny weeny bikinis and you can go nuts with the bras.</p>
<p>As for shoes: I am fortunately fairly tall so I wear flats nearly exclusively. The ballet flats are big right now, and cute.</p>
<p>Making young friends is another pretty good way to turn back the clock.</p>
<p>Was visiting Mother-in-law at assisted living home not too long ago…rode up in the elevator with H with one of the more outspoken (and senile) residents…she’s nearly deaf, and talks like she has a mouth full of marbles at volume level 10… She looked at me, looked at H, then asked me, “IS THAT YOUR SON???” about 3 times. Each time, I’d answer, “No, he’s Hannah’s son,” then she’d ask again. Ugh. H found it quite amusing… 
I knew it was time to touch up my roots again!!!</p>
<p>Today is H’s 48th birthday. So, for three months we get to be the same age.</p>
<p>Since he’s nine months younger, does that mean i have a trophy husband? ;)</p>
<p>Ugh… my eyesight is getting so bad I realized I’ve been using CONDITIONER instead of a shampoo the last 2 times I washed my hair !!! I already wear contact lenses… does that mean I have to wear READING GLASSES IN THE SHOWER ?!?</p>
<p>Old age su**s.</p>
<p>I am off to get an MRI on my knee in about 5 minutes. Feels like it is full of outmeal. The orthopod thinks it is a torn medial meniscus and that nothing in particular happened, it has just degenerated over time.</p>
<p>I agree - Old age su**s!</p>
<p>Katliamom, you’re making me feel better, I was starting to think I was looped. Several times recently I’ve accidently brought home hand soap instead of dish soap, or conditioner when I meant to buy shampoo. </p>
<p>Also lately, when trying to buy new products that I’m not familiar with, I’ve had to wander over to the reading glasses display of a store, “borrow” a pair of glasses off the display rack, in order to read the information on a container of something so that I could make a buying decision…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the shoes advice - I did see some of those ballet-type flats in a store recently; they won’t work for business of course but they were very, very attractive - I almost bought them.</p>
<p>jmmom, the hieght has an impact, but its important to look at the style of the heel. A “stacked” heel would be a lot more comfortable than a traditional stilletto</p>